Black and White Number Plates

[Len Hughes]

Just seen this on FBHVC newsletter, its also on the TR Register forum.

Non-Reflective Number Plates
At every meeting with DVLA we learn something completely
new! In this case it is that the end date for black and white
(or silver and white) number plates is linked to the historic tax
class date. So we were told that non-reflective plates are now
permitted on vehicles built before 1 January 1975.

So Sprints with B&W plates will now be legal. Slight note of caution, C&U regs still say 1973.

[Carledo]

I'll want to see this in writing under a DVLA letterhead before I believe it!
I got a tug from the local plod in my missus' old Cavalier, the reason, instead of the EU ring of stars motif on the left hand end of the plate it had a picture of Eeyore the donkey! The plate was otherwise unremarkable, correct font and spacing, no anti-camera tricks or anything else amiss, yet this jobsworth says "That's illegal mate and if I see it again i'll nick you!"
If C&U still says reflective after 1972, that's what plod will abide by, you can bet your shirt on it! I get enough unwanted attention from the boys in blue without encouraging them!

Steve

[tony g]

I always thought 73 could be non reflective? I had a 73 import (falcon xb) on a p reg so was legal to have black plates

Tony

[shaunroche]

I was always under the impression that L 1973 was the last allowable black plate which was up to March 1973 wasn't it.....?

[Carledo]

I was always under the impression that L 1973 was the last allowable black plate which was up to March 1973 wasn't it.....?

L plate ended on 31st July 73, I had always thought reflective plates are mandatory from 1st Jan 73, so would include some L reg cars but not others, It would make more sense to end the black plate at the same time as the suffix change to avoid ambiguity but when did DVLA or C&U make sense? No doubt someone will look it up and correct me!
In any case, my 73 M Toledo is out unless Len is right so I'm not too bothered especially since reflective plates look OK with Carmine. Would be nice to have black plates on the Vermillion Sprint though, but will have to wait till 1/4/2019 for that anyway!

Steve

[cliftyhanger]

The rules were there well before historic tax class was, so this link must be new.
Besides, nothing looks worse (to me) than cars that should have yellow/white reflective plates sitting on black backgrounds.

Add to that that teh vast majority of cars from the late sixties (?) on would have been supplied with the reflective plates. After all, new cars are always made to look as new as possible, why make a new car look out of date?

To quote the DVLA: "Vehicles constructed before 1.1.73 may display traditional style 'black and white' number plates i.e. white, silver or grey characters on a black plate."

[Toledo Man]

I think the confusion has set in since the rolling date for the "Historic" taxation class was reintroduced by the previous coalition government. Previously, the cutoff date for the "Historic" taxation class was the same for black number plates (1st January 1973) when Gordon Brown froze the 25 year rolling date back in 1997 when New Labour came into power.

[trackerjack]

I had a Stag in 1984 and it was "J" reg ie 1971/2 and it had black number plates.
Stags submitted for road testing by Triumph were supplied with black and white up to "J" reg.

I got stopped by plod in that car and they thought it should have had reflective plates...........they were wrong and I told them so, it was a pleasant chat though not like the nasty coppers of todays lot.